A GLASS floor planned to show off the famous Minton tiles at St George's hall is being shelved because of a lack of money.

Instead, funding earmarked for the project is likely to be used to help complete restoration work on the grade I listed building, including a new entrance at the south end.

City leaders will be asked to agree this week for the #2.5m transformation of the entrance to go ahead.

It will include an interpretation centre, cafe and access to the cells and courts.

The work is part of the second phase of restoration of the neoclassical hall, which is supposed to be ready for a grand re-opening on St George's Day next year.

But there are understood to be concerns over whether the scheme will be completed on time.

Heritage Lottery funding will cover #2m of the #5m costs, but a dispute over fundraising among St George's Hall trustees means there is currently a #1.6m shortfall.

A report to the city council's executive board, due to meet on Friday, recommends the "re-allocation of the funding for the glass floor to the south end works."

It says: "This element of work is not part of the HLF-approved purposes and we feel the budget of #300,000 - which is insufficient to achieve a technically feasible floor - can be better spent at this time if used to deliver work to the south end approved purposes.

"In addition, this floor can be installed independently at a later date, should the appropriate funding be identified." The actual cost of a glass floor could be closer to #1m.

But it would allow the hall's magnificent Minton tiled floor to be shown off.

The floor - featuring 30,000 tiles in an interlocking circles design - was created by craftsmen at the Stoke-on-Trent Minton pottery at a cost of #3,000.